Stratolaunch has achieved a significant milestone by conducting a captive carry flight with the first powered Talon-A hypersonic vehicle, TA-1, under its Roc mother ship.

According to the company’s press release, this successful flight marks a momentous step towards the company’s objective of executing a powered flight with the Talon-A vehicle.

Stratolaunch, LLC recently announced the completion of this historic flight on December 4th, which marked the twelfth flight for their colossal launch platform, Roc. Notably, this flight represented the first instance of Roc (the largest plane ever flown) transporting a Talon vehicle equipped with live propellant, a vital aspect in preparing for the inaugural powered flight of Talon-A.

The mission aimed to evaluate crucial aspects of Talon-A’s propulsion system and its performance within the flight environment while carrying live propellant. Simultaneously, it sought to verify the telemetry systems of both Roc and TA-1, essential for maintaining situational awareness during the release sequence and ensuring readiness for powered flight.

Concurrently, Stratolaunch is advancing with the production of TA-2 and TA-3 vehicles, envisioned as the initial fully reusable units in the Talon-A product line. These developments align with the company’s commitment to driving forward the innovation and progress of hypersonic technology.

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